Sorting shelving



Oct. 15, 1963 K. M. ROTHENBORG SORTING SHELVING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1960 42 INVENTOR. KA M. RD T HE NBDRG ATTORNEHS United States Patent 3,107,912 SORTING SHELVING Kai M. Rothenhorg, Kayco Manufacturing Stationers, 213 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles 4, Calif. Filed Nov. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 69,928 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-11) This invention relates to an improved sorting shelving.

In hotels and similar places it is a common practice to provide a shelving having a compartment for each room into which mail, keys and the like are placed for ultimate distribution.

It is an object of this invention to provide a series of uniform elements which when interconnected form such a shelving.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide such shelving which can readily be expanded either vertically or horizontally as desired.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the device.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged View taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the identifying insert.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of one of the elements.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE.

5 with parts thereof broken away.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged section of two elements ab out to be interconnected.

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary frontal elevation with a portion of the identifying insert broken away.

The individual elements 20 are generally I-shaped in cross section having a central wall 22 with a leg 24 and 26 at each end thereof. The leg 26 is formed with a longitudinal slot 28 in one side thereof with flanges 32 and 34 on either side of the slot which also extend the full length of the leg.

Projecting from the under surface of leg 26 adjacent the side bearing slot 28 is a flange 36 which also projects the full length of leg 26 :for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The other side of leg 26 has a slot 38 of greater width than slot 28 extending the length thereof with a flange 49 and 42 on either side thereof. The flange 42 projects from the underside of leg 26 and has a step 44 formed therein for a purpose hereinafter described. Likewise flange 49 has a step 46 formed therein.

The upper leg 24 has its sides formed in the same manner as leg 26 in a reversed relationship and like parts are given the same numerical designation with the addition of the exponent a.

To provide the end pieces for the shelving an I-shaped element 20 may be cut down the middle of wall 22 forming a half element 43 having the same slot and flange arrangement on its legs wherein like parts are given the same numerical designation with the addition of the exponent b.

Each flange 34 carries a pair of locking hooks 50 thereon and each flange 40 carries a similar pair of looking hooks 52. Each slot 38 has an extension 54 which passes through flange 42 to receive one hook 50 and 52a from adjacent elements as hereinafter be more fully described.

3,lfl7,0 l2 Patented Get. 15, 1963 In assembling the shelving a cabinet 56 of the desired size and open in the front is constructed to receive the elements. Two elements 20 are interconnected s that the flange 40 of one element will fit within slot 2% of the second element while the flange 34a of the first element fits into slot 38a of the second element with hook 50a projecting through slot extensions 54a. In the identical manner a horizontal line of elements ocf any desired length may be assembled, the interconnection being best illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9.

A second horizontal line of elements may be positioned above or below the first formed line and interconnected therewith. As seen in FIGURE 2 flange 36 is so formed as to fit the step 461: in flange 40a while similarly flange 36a seats within step 44 in flange 42 and hook 52a abuts hook 50 and hook 52 abuts hook 50a and project into slot extension 54 and 54a respectively.

Each flange 32 and 32a is provided with a rounded bead 58 and 58a to provide an abutment which will maintain letters and the like upright in the compartments.

To designate the various compartments a strip 60 within which a strip of paper 62, carrying the hotelroom designations, is slidably retained is provided. Projecting from the rear of strip 60 is a series of protuberances 64 which are hollowed as at 66 to permit same to collapse upon insertion between vertically interconnected elements 20 and expand upon full insertion so that flanges 68 and 70 thereon will engage cross-wise flanges 72 and 74 at the extremities of legs 24 and 26 t hold the room designations in place.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A sorting shelving comprising a plurality of I-shaped elements wherein each side of each leg of each element has a slot extending its full length and a flange on either side of each slot, said slots and flanges being sized to interconnect with a similarly formed element positioned side by side therewith, the slots on diagonally opposite sides of said legs of said elements being enlarged to interconnect with an additional element positioned above or below same, and hook elements formed upon certain of said flanges, and an extension of said enlarged slots receiving said hook elements.

2. A sorting shelving comprising a plurality of I-shaped elements wherein each side of each leg of each element has a slot extending its full length and a flange on either side of'each slot, said slots and flanges being sized to interconnect with a similarly formed element positioned side by side therewith, the slots on diagonally opposite sides of said legs of said elements being enlarged to interconnect with an additional element positioned above or below same, and hook elements formed upon certain of said flanges, and an extension of said enlarged slots receiving said hook elements, and a bead formed on the upper or lower sides of said legs forming a support for articles in said shelving.

3. A sorting shelving comprising a plurality of I-shaped elements wherein each side of each leg of each element has a slot extending its full length and a flange on either side of each slot, said slots and flanges being sized to interconnect with a similarly formed element positioned side by side therewith, the slots on diagonally opposite sides of said legs of said elements being enlarged to interconnect with an additional element positioned above or below same, and the outermost flanges upon said legs 3 being formed to interconnect with a similar element positioned above or below same.

4. A sorting shelving comprising a plurality of I-shaped elements wherein each side of each leg of each element has a slot extending its full length and a flange on either side of each slot, said slots and flanges being sized to interconnect with a similarly formed element positioned side by side therewith, the slots on diagonally opposite sides of said legs of said elements being enlarged to interconnect with an additional element positioned above or below same, and the outermost flanges upon said legs being formed and interconnected with a similar element positioned above or below same, and a designation strip having a protuberance thereon projecting between said last mentioned interconnected flanges.

5. An element for assembly with identical elements for forming a sorting shelving comprising: a central wall, a pair of parallel legs attached to opopsite extremities of said wall and extending along the length thereof, one side of the lower leg having a slot there along with a flange on either side thereof, said side having an additional flange projecting downwardly from said leg, the remaining side of said lower leg having a larger slot there along with a flange on either side thereof and a step formed on the outermost flange, the sides of said upper leg being termed in the identical manner in reversed relationship. I

6. An element for assembly with identical elements for forming a sorting shelving comprising: a central wall, a pair of parallel legs attached to opposite extremities of said wall and extending along the length thereof, one side of the lower leg having a slot there along with a flange on either side thereof, said side having an additional flange projecting downwardly from said leg, the remaining side of said lower leg having a larger slot there'along with a flange on either side thereof and a step formed on the outermost flange, the sides of said upper leg being formed in the identical manner in reversed relationship, and an inwardly extending extension connecting each larger slot, hooks formed on the outermost flanges at each side of each leg.

7. An element for assembly with identical elements for forming a sorting shelving comprising: a central wall, a pair of parallel legs attached to opopsite extremities of said wall and extending along the length thereof, one side of the lower leg having a slot there along with a flange on either side thereof, said side having an additional flange projecting downwardly from said leg, the remaining side of said lower leg having a larger slot there along a with a flange on either side thereof and a step formed on the outermost flange, the sides of said upper leg being formed in the identical manner in reversed relationship, an inwardly extending extension connecting each larger slot, and hooks [formed on the outermost flanges at each side of each leg, and a bead formed on the innermost flange of the first mentioned side of the lower leg.

8. An element for assembly with identical elements for forming a sorting shelving comprising: a central wall, a pair of parallel legs attached to opposite extremities of said wall and extending along the length thereof, one side of the lower leg having a slot there along with a flange on either side thereof, said side having an additional flange projecting downwardly from said leg, the remaining side of said lower leg having a larger slot there along with a flange on either side thereot and a step formed on the outermost flange, the sides of said upper leg being formed in the identical manner in reversed relationship, and an inwardly extending extension connecting each larger slot, hooks formed on the outermost flanges at each side of each leg, and a crosswise flange at each end of each leg.

9. An element for assembly with identical elements for forming a sorting shelving comprising: a central wall, a pair of parallel legs attached to opposite extremities of of said Wall and extending along the length thereof, one side of the lower leg having a slot there along with a flange on either side thereof, said side having an additional flange projecting downwardly from said leg, the remaining side of said lower leg having a larger slot there along with a flange on either side thereof and a step formed on the outer-most flange, the sides of said upper leg being formed in the identical manner in reversed relationship, and an inwardly extending extension connecting each larger slot, hooks formed on the outermost flanges at each side of each leg, and a crosswise flange at each end of each leg, and a bead formed on the innermost flange of the first mentioned side of the lower leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,076,044 Kintner Oct. 21, 1913 2,589,304 Sp'angler Mar. 18, 1952 2,637,085 Madsen May 5, 1953 2,878,904 Fanner Mar. 24, 1959 2,926,928 Bennett Mar. 1, 1960 2,976,969 Gillespie Mar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 74,236 Switzerland Feb. -1,' 1917 

4. A SORTING SHELVING COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF I-SHAPED ELEMENTS WHEREIN EACH SIDE OF EACH LEG OF EACH ELEMENT HAS A SLOT EXTENDING ITS FULL LENGTH AND A FLANGE ON EITHER SIDE OF EACH SLOT, SAID SLOTS AND FLANGES BEING SIZED TO INTERCONNECT WITH A SIMILARLY FORMED ELEMENT POSITIONED SIDE BY SIDE THEREWITH, THE SLOTS ON DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LEGS OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING ENLARGED TO INTERCONNECT WITH AN ADDITIONAL ELEMENT POSITIONED ABOVE OR BELOW SAME, AND THE OUTERMOST FLANGES UPON SAID LEGS BEING FORMED AND INTERCONNECT WITH A SIMILAR ELEMENT POSITIONED ABOVE OR BELOW SAME, AND A DESIGNATION STRIP HAVING A PROTUBERANCE THEREON PROJECTING BETWEEN SAID LAST MENTIONED INTERCONNECT FLANGES. 